Famous Seattle photographer needs $80K in health care

If you've never heard of Seattle photographer Lance Mercer, you've likely seen his photos of Pearl Jam, the Presidents, Neil Young and other big names. His family is now asking the public for help in paying his medical bills.

Here's a look at Mercer's work over the years. (He's pictured at a Grammy telecast party in Seattle on February 10, 2013).

If you've never heard of Seattle photographer Lance Mercer, you've likely seen his photos of Pearl Jam, the Presidents, Neil Young and other big names. His family is now asking the public for help in paying

If you’re never heard of Lance Mercer, you’ve likely seen his photos. As a young photographer in Seattle, he documented the rise of grunge in the early ’90s, chronicling a historic era of moshing, hair-whipping, guitar-crunching and sweat.

He worked as Pearl Jam’s official photographer during the band’s height in fame. He photographed Bono, Neil Young and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He’s also gone on tour with his own Seattle punk band, The Briefs.

But on Friday, his daughter Mackenzie said the Seattle photographer has stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s follicular lymphoma and needs help paying the medical bills. She made the announcement in a crowd-funding campaign to raise $80,000 for her dad.

“Lance is not the type to ask for help, so we are asking for him,” wrote Mackenzie Mercer. “And like many artists, who have dedicated their lives to a creative calling, he is without insurance.”

By Friday afternoon – after just 12 hours – donations had topped $32,000 for Mercer’s care.